A Pontiac Police officer was lucky to sustain only a wrist injury after freeing himself from a suspect’s vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Interstate 55 near Pontiac Saturday.

Police Chief Jim Woolford said the extent of injury to officer Casey Kohlmeier’s wrist is not yet known, but that the officer’s injuries could have been much worse.

The vehicle’s driver, Andrew L. White, 30, Chicago, was later apprehended and faces numerous charges, including aggravated battery to a police officer and aggravated fleeing or eluding police. A subsequent check found he has no valid driver’s license.

Kohlmeier initiated a traffic stop on the interstate around 11:30 p.m. as part of his Livingston County Proactive Unit detail. A van was traveling southbound near Pontiac’s 197 exit and Kohlmeier noticed the rear-registration light was out and initiated the stop.

The officer spoke to the driver, a male passenger in the front seat and a female passenger in the rear seat. The driver did not have a license or insurance card and none of the occupants said they had identification cards.

White gave Kohlmeier a false name and date of birth, which did not check out. The officer returned to the vehicle and asked White to step out of the van. White refused and the officer made the command again to exit the vehicle.

The police chief said at this point, White started to roll up his window and Kohlmeier stuck his arm through the opening in an attempt to stop White from leaving.

“He (White) grabbed Casey’s arm and took off, getting to a high-rate of speed. He carried the officer for some distance before he could pull free. He then fell onto the interstate.”

Woolford said the vehicle continued south on the interstate and other vehicles from the Proactive Unit, as well as Livingston County Sheriff’s Police, Illinois State Police, McLean County Sheriff’s Police, and Normal Police Department engaged in the pursuit.

The vehicle was finally stopped in Bloomington after police put out a spike strip near Evergreen Cemetery.

The van drove over the spikes, which punctured the tires.

Both White and the other male passenger fled the scene. White was captured a short way from the scene, but the other male was not found. The female passenger stayed in the van and was released without charges.

White was brought to Livingston County Jail, where he remains in custody.

Kohlmeier was taken to OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

“I don’t know what would cause someone facing a registration-light violation to do something where he could have very seriously injured an officer. There were not other warrants against White, but we are still investigating this matter,” Woolford said.